Training Grounds

Vivian went back to the cafeteria and was standing outside.

 

Compared to earlier, there were only a handful of people already and it seemed that the staff was already preparing to close.

 

Hmm…

 

Now that I'm here, I just realized that I don't have a good plan on how to do this…

 

What am I going to do…? 

 

Just go there and ask if I could use their kitchen to burn myself because I want to learn [Fire Mastery]…?

 

I… 

 

I really didn't think this through…

 

She racked her brain, trying to figure out a plan.

 

After about a minute or two, she finally gave up.

 

I really don't know…

 

However…

 

Based on this owner's body, I have 3 Affinities…

 

Is that common or rare…?

 

But considering this body's age, given that she's still a Copper Rank I adventurer and her stats didn't have any bonus stats, I guess it is…

 

I mean, I think it's common…

 

But what if when I entered this body it erased her skills…?

 

Well, it still doesn't explain her shitty equipment and money…

 

But what if women are not typically fighters…?

 

Although there were female adventurers, based on her observation, most were men.

 

Not to mention I also have a pretty face…

 

Ugh…!

 

I really should've asked what's the average amount of Affinities a person has in this world…

 

She recalled the Gold Rank adventurer who invited her for dinner.

 

Should have I accepted her invitation…?

 

But what if her goal was to drug me and sell me…?

 

She shook her head.

 

No point in crying over spilled milk…

 

And plus, I think I was more beautiful than her…

 

No, I was definitely more beautiful…

 

That stupid bitch, of course, she would drug and sell me…

 

After all, they did say that beautiful women are hated…

 

But I really want to test it out if I can earn [Fire Mastery]…

 

An idea suddenly popped inside her head.

 

Wait…!

 

I'm beautiful, right…?

 

So I should have pretty privilege, right…?

 

Pah!

 

She facepalmed herself.

 

Why the fuck didn't I think about that…?!

 

Ugh…!

 

So stupid…!

 

She raised her hands and wanted to claw her face but suppressed it. Instead, she began doing some breathing exercises to calm herself and also did some circular motions with her hands to herself as if she were calling in the energy of the universe to come to her.

 

Vivian, you're beautiful…

 

You're amazing…

 

You're awesome…

 

You're a 10 out of a 10 -- Ah no, scratch that, let's just say 8.5…

 

Can't be too arrogant now…

 

Vivian, you're beautiful, you're awesome, you're an amazing person, and you're an 8.5 out of a 10 so use your pretty privilege…

 

Pah.

 

She clapped both of her cheeks with her hands.

 

I just hope the cook is a man…

 

She began walking.

 

When she entered the cafeteria, she ignored the female staff and went over to the nearest male staff.

 

Vivian smiled inside her head when she noticed that the male staff was in his mid-teens and was wearing a brown cloak.

 

"Hi," she said confidently and placed a hand on her hip.

 

The young Priest was sweeping the floor when he stopped and looked at her.

 

"Sorry sister, but we're already closing."

 

"I know. I'm here to ask for something different."

 

He cocked his head to the side as he stared at her.

 

"I'm here to ask if I can go inside your kitchen and burn myself because I want to learn [Fire Mastery]."

 

A confused expression appeared on the young Priest’s face.

 

"What?"

 

"Did you hear me?"

 

"Um… I'm not sure if I heard you right. But did you just say that you want to use our kitchen because you wanted to burn yourself in order to learn [Fire Mastery]?"

 

"Yes. So can I? It will only take a second."

 

It was then a female staff approached.

 

"What's going in here?"

 

Vivian and the male staff turned to her.

 

Tch.

 

Vivian clicked her tongue mentally when she saw the female staff who was in her early 30s and was wearing a white cloak.

 

"Hello sister," Vivian said with a kind and friendly smile. "I was just asking this kind brother of ours if I can borrow your kitchen for a second to burn myself and learn [Fire Mastery]."

 

"Burn yourself to learn [Fire Mastery]?” the Priestess said and a confused expression flashed across her face. “Sorry sister, but that's not allowed here."

 

Hearing her answer, Vivian suppressed the urge to just grab the woman by the hair and bash her head against the floor until it cracked open and spilled all of its contents all over the floor.

 

She was about to answer but stopped herself when she noticed that the Priestess opened her mouth.

 

“When you said that you want to burn yourself to learn [Fire Mastery], do you mean you haven’t opened your [Fire Mastery] and you want to open it?"

 

Open my [Fire Mastery]…?

 

She recalled the time she unlocked her [Light Mastery].

 

Is that it…?

 

Is that what she’s talking about…?

 

“Yes, I want to open my [Fire Mastery].”

 

“Then you should go to the Training Grounds.”

 

Training Grounds…?

 

She recalled the time when Joshua brought her here and showed her around a bit.

 

And as for what Gillian told her last night to meet with her the next day so that she could properly introduce Vivian to the headmaster and give her a tour of the compound, she forgot about it.

 

Noticing that Vivian was confused and she was Brown Cloak, the Priestess decided to offer something.

 

"The Training Grounds is where everyone trains, including opening their Affinities. It’s right beside the men's dormitory and it’s open 24/7. In fact, I'm going there to train once I'm done with my work here. You can come with me if you like."

 

Vivian thought about it for a minute.

 

I guess it would be better if I had someone to show me around than wandering aimlessly…

 

"Sure, I would love to if you don't mind, sister," Vivian said and smiled.

 

"Okay."

 

"I'll just wait outside then," Vivian said and then headed for the exit.

 

***

 

A couple of minutes later…

 

The female staff stepped out of the cafeteria and swept her gaze around the area.

 

She saw Vivian at one of the benches waving a her.

 

She waved back and went over to her.

 

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

 

"It's fine. So we're going now?"

 

"Yes."

 

The female staff began walking and Vivian followed suit.

 

"My name's Criselle by the way."

 

"Vivian."

 

"Beautiful name."

 

"Yours also."

 

"I've never seen you before, Sister Vivian. When did you join the Temple?"

 

"Just yesterday. You?"

 

"It's been years."

 

"Years? So you're powerful?"

 

"No, just average."

 

"I'm confused. But isn't the number of Class Magic you have comparable to the color of your cloak?"

 

"Yes, but it depends on what Class Magic spells you have," said Criselle. "To be a White Cloak, you need at least 1 Class Magic spell. To be a Yellow Cloak, you need [Resurrection]."

 

"Is getting [Resurrection] that hard?"

 

"It depends on the individual…" she said quietly.

 

"I see."

 

"There's also Red and Gray. But those are special positions and you need to at least be a Yellow Cloak.

 

"I see. Where is the Training Grounds, by the way? Is it far?"

 

"No, it's beside the men's dormitory."

 

"Sorry, but I don't know where that is."

 

"Well, you did mention that you just joined yesterday. I can be your sparring partner if you like."

 

"Sparring partner…?”

 

Although Vivian believes in equal rights and lefts for all, sparring with women just seems pointless.

 

Wait…!

 

I’m a woman right now…

 

“Sure, as long as you go easy on me," Vivian said and let out an awkward smile as she scratched the side of her face.

 

"I'm really not strong. It's just that, I also help new members, especially the younger ones, in training."

 

"I see."

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
 
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Please note that the chapters posted there are only drafts. So when those said Chapter Drafts will be published here, there will be some edits. They also involve a few secret outline notes/details that I won't publish here because they contain spoilers or dispel some of the mysteries. And at the moment, Chapter Drafts 258-262 are posted there.
 
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Chapter end